Smart Glasses Won’t Replace Phones Anytime Soon

Mobile phones have been in existence for decades. From the massive bricks with pullout antennas back in the day, to the ultra-thin smartphones that are essentially a computer in your pocket today. But does this necessarily mean the form factor will be around forever? According to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, he thinks phones will remain relevant for the years to come, even though smart glasses look like they could be the future.

Alphabet CEO on smart glasses replacing smartphones

During the company’s Q2 2025 earnings call, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai was asked about Android XR and smart glasses. Pichai expressed the company’s excitement about the investment in the platform and form factor. However, he cautioned that phones won’t be replaced anytime soon.

According to Pichai, “I think it will be an exciting new emerging category, but I still expect phones to be at the center of the [consumer] experience… for the next two to three years, at least.” 

We can’t say we disagree. Smart glasses have come a long way in acceptance compared to when Google Glass first launched. However, it’s still a long way from replacing our phones, if at all. Firstly, smart glasses need to be able to do what our phones do. But better, especially if companies want consumers to accept the paradigm shift.

Secondly, how do you convince the world’s population to start wearing glasses? Also, what about those who rely on prescription glasses on a daily basis? How would companies address that? These are questions that definitely need to be answered before we ditch our phones.

What are the alternatives?

That being said, we do think that phones might not necessarily be a permanent form of communication in the future. Smartphones and modern technology like augmented reality and AI have changed the way we interact with our devices.

This is why some analysts believe that even though Apple fumbled out of the gate with Apple Intelligence, the company still has time to get it right. This is because a true AI-first device has yet to exist. This means that it is possible that the future of communications might not be a phone or smart glasses. It could be something else entirely.

While the Rabbit R1 was a disaster, the fact that it generated so much excitement suggests that the world is willing to embrace something new. Whether it’s a pin-shaped device we wear on our chests, an earpiece that can project a virtual screen in front of our eyes, or smart glasses, only time will tell.